* REVIEW * L'Oreal Butterfly Intenza mascara

If you've been following my blog for awhile,

you'll know that aside from SYN Cosmetics/glitter/metallics/red... I love me a good mascara :P

Lately, L'Oreal has released some mascaras that have been ON POINT.

Is today's post going to be the exception?

...

Read more to find out! :) 

The Product

L'oreal's Butterfly Intenza mascara

Okay, so the chevron background went a lithe haywire 

with the mirrored look of the mascara casing...

Here's a better pic (including the brush) from L'oreal's website:

Some of it's Claims:

- extends your lashes "like wings"

- contains a "breakthrough double winged tip" brush

- fans out and separates lashes

- provides 9x more volume

The Review

I've done a post/review of L'Oreal's original Butterfly mascara,

and I've also used it in a ton of my makeup looks on here

(and in everyday life, AND it made my top products of 2013 post).

I was extremely impressed with it,

so I had high hopes for this newer, updated version.

Let's just say, it did not disappoint! 

I do have longer lashes naturally. This can be nice,

but a lot of mascaras can really muck them up and cause them to stick together.

( see this one from Benefit, for example)

Here are my lashes prior to any makeup:

Here they are with L'Oreal's Butterfly Intenza macara:

Whew!

Muchhhhhhh better :)

PROS:

- Reasonable price at $8.99 bucks

- Gave plenty of volume and length!

- Easy to use brush

- Hardly ever clumps, even in the tube/around tube opening

CONS:

- The brush is a bit bulky, so it's a little hard to reach those 

teeny tiny lashes in the inner corners of my eye

- I like using black, but this only comes in 2 shades of black, 

which might be a problem for people who prefer brown

The Verdict:

I absolutely love this mascara. The volume and length it gives my lashes is awesome.

I can only imagine how fantastic it works for those with not as much lash.

It appeals to all kinds of customers!

Plus, the price is pretty good.

I've been using this particular tube of mascara for almost a month now,

and it's still maintaining the same consistency and quality as the first time I used it.

Very pleased!

I definitely recommend this to everyone :)

RATING (OUT OF 10): 9

Christmas nail mail!

Nail mail days are always some of the best.

Today's post consist of two Christmas polishes from Candy Lacquer.

I haven't used Candy Lacquer in a half year or so,

but the last polish I got from there was great.

Can you guess which these are? ;)

Stay tuned for these babies to be swatched! :)

Newest SYN Cosmetics swatches & sale info :)

Ya'll know I'm crazy for some good, glittery, metallic pigments.

Few specialize in that better than SYN Cosmetics.

She gets it right every time! :)

Here are my latest purchases:

(pictured over Too Faced's Shadow Insurance- no photo editing other than text)

It's a little hard to see here, but 'Snap' isn't just a lovely purple;

it shines gold in the right light, too.

:: drools ::

These greens are luscious and gorg.

I foresee maybe doing a fun Grinch makeup look with them :)

If you like these,

head on over to her shop.

Currently, most (if not all) pigments are half off- just $3.99 !

GO NOW.

:)

Let me know what you think!

Melt Cosmetics- '6six6'

YUSSSSSSS.

It's finally here!

I've been lemming for Six6six from Melt Cosmetics F.O.R.E.V.E.R.,

and it's always been out of stock...

... but not this time!

I wish I had a better camera because my pics just don't do it justice.

BUT, here it is:

'6six6' is an über sultry, deep, matte, oxblood red.

It's the epitome of sexy (to me) and perfect for the Fall and Winter seasons :)

It's bold and beautiful.

I think one of the reasons I love it so much is because it looks nice against my fair skin tone...

not all lipsticks do!

I'm obsessed with the very fair skin, cat eye, and bold red lip this time of year.

Have any of you tried this lipstick?

What are your thoughts?

Wearable Thanksgiving Look 2014

Goooooood morning!

So last year, I created a wearable Thanksgiving look that I really fell in love with.

I had a lot of people comment on it, as well, so I figured I would try to create another one.

My goal is to make this look something fun and great for the holidays, but also (duh) wearable-

so anyone could create it AND wear it :)

Here's my look this year!

I love the dimensions that the shimmer of this looks gives.

It's muh fave :)

I used:

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

(all SYN Cosmetics' shadows)

'Trace'- inner corner

'Blaze' & 'Ruthless'- lid

'Down' & 'Rapid'- crease

L'Oreal mascara

Covergirl Line Exact eyeliner

I absolutely love these colors together for Fall,

which those of you who have followed my blog for awhile know.

They're just gorgeous,

and SYN Cosmetics does not disappoint!

What are your thoughts?!

Zoya 'Blair'

Today I have the second polish from the trio I bought from Zoya recently.

This is the one that first drew my eye ;P

Here's 2 coats of 'Blair'.

'Blair' is a deep, red wine metallic polish.

It's easily opaque in two coats,

The formula was great, like most Zoyas.

I foresee this little baby being a great base for some nail art/stamping for Christmas :)

Maybelline 'Expresso Exposed' lipstick

I've got a sensual, Fall/Winter lipstick for you today!

I picked up this new shade from the drugstore a few days ago :)

Swatch:

It's a fabulous, sexy, merlot red.

UNLIKE all my other Maybelline lipsticks, this formula was very thin and grainy.

Even after a few coats in order to try to even out the color,

it didn't look so hot.

:(

Disappointing. 

The color is lovely,

but formula sucked on this one.

Maybe it's just a dud?

Zoya 'Marnie'

Happy Saturday!

I took advantage of the latest Zoya sale (3 for $15; or maybe it was $18?),

and today's polish was one of the ones I picked!

Here's 2 coats of Zoya's 'Marnie'.

'Marnie' is a plumish/mauve colored cream from the Naturel 2 collection.

It was a bit more runny that I would have liked,

but it's still a lovely shade that is perfect for Fall.

:)

* REIVEW * Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Powder

So it officially feels and looks like the holidays are here.

The mall and shops all over town are putting up their Christmas decorations,

and we have several night below freezing... and days that are barely above it :)

It's my favorite time!

The Product

In spirit of all the magic and sparkle of the holidays,

I wanted to do a review of a recent product that I picked up and tried for the first time a month or so ago:

Urban Decay's Naked Illumated powder

This is an-almost translucent powder packed with sparkle and shimmer.

It comes with this handy brush:

I haven't used powder AT ALL for yearsssss because of how caked on they tend to look.

Will I give in and actually use this powder?

Read on to find out! :)

Some of it's Claims:

- Gives skin a luminous look with shimmer & "light reflecting particles"

- Lightweight

- Won't look metallic, like the cheaper formulas do

- Provides color like a loose powder

- Convient since it's similar to a pressed powder

The Review

I tried a similar product many years ago (Too Faced's Chandelier translucent, shimmering powder), so I had KIND of an idea what to expect.

It was hard to really get pics of the shimmer with my camera,

but on my skin, it looks EXACTLY like it does in it's box on the pic above-

Just as shimmery, and exactly as opaque as the color pictured.

So, now for the important stuff:

PROS

- Lightweight; doesn't look 'caked' on

- You actually get significant sparkle!! It's noticeable, but not like "Hey, I work the pole/corner" kind of noticeable ;P

- Comes in two shades, Luminous (which is what I have) or Aura

- The brush works great; not a useless add-on like with some powders

CONS

- It's a little pricey at $29

- It doesn't last quite as long as I would like, although it doesn't claim to be a long-lasting product

The Verdict

Though I'm not one to ever use powder, I use this bad boy 'erryday. It's perfect.

It's lightweight, easy to apply, and it gives that sexy shimmer that I love so much.

Especially around this cold, magical time of year- I like using a bit more sparkle than normal.

This product definitely lives up to the task and my expectations.

I highly recommend! 

RATING (OUT OF 10): 9.5

Was this review helpful?

Have you had a different or similar experience with this product?

Let me know!

'Apple Cider'

Hello again!

Today I have a polish that I actually featured last year,

but it's so lovely that I had to feature it again this year :D

This is 'Apple Cider' from the formerly known PopCultureCosmetics

(now known as Neverland Lacquers) over 2 coats of Zoya's 'Flynn'.

I just adore this polish.

It's a bronze-y base with all sizes/shapes of gold & red glitter.

Over the (sorry, but) 'poop-brown color of 'Flynn'... it's actually super gorgeous.

ESPECIALLY in the sunlight!

This polish just screams Fall to me,

and I couldn't have been happier to whip it back out again :)